cafebabel.com

Pesetas, liras, franks and drachmas: euro is living on borrowed time

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0000

Multiple defaults, a return to the lira, pesetas and francs, the break-up of the monetary union and Europe comes crashing down. Sounds like an endless chain of unreal events? Perhaps not: the end of the common currency is no longer a taboo for European press and economists

Belgian, Polish, Spanish and German media on last EU summit of 2011

('euro topics',) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:40:36 -0000

At the EU summit that kicks off on 8 December in Brussels a number of countries are unwilling to go along with proposals by Germany and France to amend the EU treaties as a means of controlling the debt crisis. The German government refuses to make concessions. Disunited Europe must succeed even though it seems doomed to run aground, the press write

Do the Merkel, Monti and Sarkozy dance

('euro topics',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:13:29 -0000

On 24 November German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy agreed on plans to amend the EU treaties to impose budget discipline on the 17 eurozone countries. Italian prime minister Mario Monti also supports the initiative

Oh joy Rajoy – conservatives take power in Spain after 8 years

('euro topics',) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 -0000

On 21 November early elections in Spain saw the people’s party take power from the socialists in an absolute majority to be led by Mariano Rajoy. It is Europe’s fifth government to fall because of the eurozone crisis. The French, Spanish, Italian, Austrian and local press say: ‘reforms, reforms, reforms’

Greek referendum, ghastly mistake? Britain, Portugal, Germany, France and Latvia react

('eurotopics',) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:21:48 -0000

Despite massive criticism and shares dropping worldwide, Greek prime minister Giorgos Papandreou is going ahead with the planned referendum. His cabinet voted for a referendum on austerity measures on 1 November. Some commentators dismiss the move as irresponsible; others praise the democractic act

Eurozone crisis what crisis? 50% of Greece's debt cut

('euro topics',) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:36:46 -0000

On 26 October the 27 heads of state and government of the European Union reached agreement in Brussels on a debt restructuring and new rescue package for Greece, among other things. Last chance saloon for Athens, say French, Austrian, Spanish and Greek commentators

German, Dutch and Finnish reactions on Greece insolvency

('euro topics',) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:30:13 -0000

After the discussion about allowing Greece to go bankrupt was reignited in Germany, share prices and the the euro exchange rate dropped on 12 September. While some commentators see the discussion as sheer populism that could have catastrophic repercussions, others say insolvency and a euro exit for Greece are well worth considering

Spanish, Belgian media on Portuguese prime minister resignation

('euro topics',) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:15:00 -0000

José Sócrates handed in his resignation on 23 March after the austerity measures proposed by his minority government were rejected by parliament. The interest rates for Portuguese government bonds then rose to record highs while the euro dropped on currency markets. The eurozone can only avoid new perils when everyone understands that the times of plenty are over, writes the press

Estonia: blowing hot and cold in the eurozone

('Carol Howard',) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:53:38 -0000

In the midst of the euro crisis Estonia is saying goodbye to its kroon and on 1st January 2011 it introduced the single currency. Given the problems in Ireland, Portugal and Spain, this is one of the few pieces of good news for monetary union this year

Greece crisis: lowdown on Germany's role, US credit agencies and more

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:45:00 -0000

Interview with French economist Céline Antonin ahead of the eurogroup summit on 7 May, where the attendees should confirm their €110 billion financial aid package to Greece, and the three burning questions arising from the crisis which also apply to the European union

Satirists Clark and Dawe take on eurozone crisis - in 2 minutes 35

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:30:00 -0000

We're always a bit baffled by the ins and outs of the eurozone here at cafebabel.com - so it was nice to catch this little Youtube video circulated by the FT's chief economics commentator. Hilarious, though frightening

Enough with the 'hard-working Germans paying for lazy Greeks'

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:26:28 -0000

In a spirit against nationalist agitation and economic ignorance, the presidents of the European movements in Berlin and Athens signed a common German-Greek manifesto for Europe on 5 May 2010. Here's what they have to say on a day that the 750 billion euro rescue package is agreed

French, Spanish, Czech and British youth on euroscepticism

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:12:36 -0000

Unpaid interns, taxes, recycling, the parliament in Strasbourg...you name it, our contributors from across the cafebabel.com network have something to say about what irks them most about Europe. 9 May marks sixty years since the Schuman declaration was signed, when it was agreed that France, Germany and others would work together as a federation

Europe apprehensive about Athens

('euro topics',) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:36:14 -0000

Ahead of the 11 February summit meeting on Greece in Brussels, several EU members are apparently willing to provide aid to the crisis-riden state. The German, Bulgarian, Belgian and Czech press fear a devaluation of the euro and say any measures to help the country should be attached to strict requirements

Happy fourth birthday to central and eastern Europe

('c\xc3\xa9dric AUDINOT',) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

It has been four years since the European Union opened its door wide open and welcomed ten member states. It's not been a 100% success story for every member though

Liechtenstein: a paradise’s light is dimming

('Erin Woycik',) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Liechtenstein, the geographical heart of the EU, has 35,000 inhabitants, 70,000 foundations and 110,000 million euros deposited in bank accounts whose owners are anonymous. All this leaves a bad taste in the European mouth

Tax havens: what is the best policy?

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0000

Exploited by multinational companies to increase profits or by the very rich to pay less tax: tax havens represent the slightly shady side of international finance. How to eliminate them?

Prices are rising: blame the euro?

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Deep at the heart of the political debate the euro is often held responsible. Life is more expensive, but whose fault is it?

Euro: at last, a unique currency

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Collectors, get happy. The 2 euro coin is going to profit from a new design; not a national emblem, but a face showing support for Europe

Buying condoms with a strong euro

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The euro may be breaking records compared to the dollar, but the explosive breakthrough of the Chinese yuan in the international monetary system has upset the traditional parities of currencies. Plus a condom price checklist

Malta and Cyprus to adopt the Euro by 2008

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Malta and Cyprus win approval from the European Commission and the European Central Bank to become the respective 14th and 15th Eurozone members by 1 January

Cartoonists trace EU cracks

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 09 May 2007 06:04:00 -0000

Much of the distrust towards the European Union can be traced in political cartoons which have appeared in the Iberian media. Four Spanish cartoonists wax ironical about the EU

Euro – just Esperanto money?

('Ed Saunders',) — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Member states will have to adopt the Euro if the European Union wants to remain influential in 50 years time

'Were the US to go under, the world would turn to the Euro'

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The five-year-old Euro may be trading above the dollar, but a stronger currency can damage Europe